District Capitalized Revolving Fund Manager Grant Program
Department of Small and Local Business Development (“DSLBD” or the “Department”) is excited to announce that it will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025 District Capitalized Revolving Fund Manager (“DCRFM”) Grant Program, beginning July 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.
The DCRFM Grant Program is an initiative by the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) aimed at making it easier to do business in the District and promoting sustainable business growth and long-term success. For the fiscal year 2025 (FY25), the DCRFM Grant Program will provide equitable access to capital for qualified DC-based businesses that face challenges in obtaining credit and financing from traditional funders.
DSLBD plans to award between one (1) and three (3) grants, with a total of $298,000 available for FY25. This amount includes funds that will be sub-awarded to eligible businesses.
Grants associated with the FY25 DCRFM Grant Program will have a specific performance period. This period will begin when the relevant grant agreement is executed and will end no later than September 30, 2025. The performance period will conclude with the repayment of the second and final round of funding, expected to occur around December 2027.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 25, 2025, 2:00 PM (ET).
Made in DC (“MiDC”) x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program
The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development is excited to announce that it will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025 Made in DC (“MiDC”) x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program, beginning July 21, 2025, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”).
MiDC supports and promotes businesses that design, make, produce, and/or assemble products in the District, while ReFashion intends to uplift small and local businesses in the fashion industry. The MiDC x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program will issue awards to local, non-storefront-based makers, creatives, and small business owners, including those with a focus on fashion. The program aims to increase access to market opportunities for businesses that lack a physical retail presence.
This lottery-based grant program offers eligible businesses the opportunity to access funds for vendor opportunities, inventory, back-office support, and branding initiatives. These grants aim to increase visibility and sales for home-based, online, or mobile maker businesses across Washington, DC. More information about the grant opportunity is listed below.
For this grant program, DSLBD will use a randomized lottery system to select eligible businesses to receive reimbursement grants of up to $2,000 from $50,000 in available funding for fiscal year 2025. Only one (1) grant will be awarded per business or business owner. The Department will award a maximum of twenty-five (25) grants through this program.
Expenses eligible for reimbursement for the FY25 MiDC x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program must be incurred from March 11, 2025, to August 22, 2025 (“Period of Performance”).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 22, 2025, 2:00 PM (ET)
2025 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant Program
The Department of Small and Local Business Development is excited to announce that it will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant Program (referred to as "Ward8CIF") starting on July 17, 2025. The Ward8CIF Grant Program is an initiative by DSLBD aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in Ward 8. It provides funding opportunities that support equitable access to capital and promote sustainable business growth and long-term success, specifically for businesses in Ward 8 that are operated by residents of Ward 8 in DC.
The Ward8CIF Grant Program is a DSLBD initiative created to enhance the ease of doing business through funding opportunities that support equitable access to capital and promote sustainable business growth and long-term success, specifically for Ward 8-based businesses operated by Ward 8 DC residents.
DSLBD intends to award between forty-three (43) and eighty-six (86) grants of up to $10,000 each from the $430,000 in available funding for FY25. All business expenses reimbursed by the FY25 Ward 8 Community Investment Fund Grant must have occurred between January 1, 2025, and July 17, 2025. In addition, FY25 Ward8CIF grant recipients will be expected to comply with reporting requirements ending on or around September 30, 2025.
Businesses interested in applying must register and apply online using the following link: https://bit.ly/FY25Ward8CIFGrantApplication. Note: If typing the link in a browser search bar, the address must be typed with the exact case and capitalization as written above.
Applicants must submit all documents and attestations using the online application portal. Applications or application materials will not be accepted if submitted outside the online application portal or after the FY25 Ward8CIF Grant Program application deadline.
Application Process and Key Dates
DSLBD anticipates reviewing grant applications in late August 2025 and notifying awardees on or around August 28, 2025. This timeframe is subject to change.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 18, 2025, 2:00 PM ET
UPDATE REGARDING BUSINESS to BUSINESS: Service Providers Grant (May 28, 2025):
DSLBD has rescinded the Request for Applications for the Business-to-Business ("B2B") Service Provider Grant Program that was posted on January 17, 2025. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check the Department's Current Funding Opportunities page for information on future grant opportunities.
